Samuel w



@uiten tutes lstrnt @fitte Letters Patent Ivo. 69,216, 'dated iS'eptember 24,1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN VESTS.

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.TO ALL 'TO WHOM THSEPRESEN'IS SHALL COME:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. Hunrnorou, of Augusta, in the county of Ienneb'ec, and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mens Vests; and do hereby deciare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof,`refcrencc boing had to the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention, the object of which is to provide asubstituto for the strap and buckle now universally employed in mens vests for contracting or tightening them, the invention doing away with the objections incident to their use.

In thc employment of the ordinary strap and buckle, owing to its inelastic, unyielding properties, the buttons are frequently terzi from their fastcnings when the body of the wearer is'in an' unnatural or strained position, the strap itself being frequently subject to fracture, and requiring a new one to be substituted.

My present invention consists in applying an elastic goring or strip to each side ofthe vest, and in sue-h manner that it shall partially encircio each arm-hole, the application of such elastic strip being shown in the accompanying drawing, in which A denotes the garment and a the strip, composed of the well-known shirred goods, it being properly stitched into the vest in any well-known manner, and below the arm-holes.

The object of putting the elastic goring in the sides of the vest is to admit of its being conveniently and readily used in conjunction with the ordinary strap and buckle, which may be. attached to the hack of the vest in the usual manner. Thus the wearer can tighten the vest, or adjust it to suit his size and general conformation, while the elastic gering allows the vest Ato yieldto any unusual strain, when, for instance, the body is bent or twisted, preventing the material from being torn or ripped, and at the same time holding the vest snugly about the person. This could not he done with any convenience or comfort if the goring were in the back, as this would necessitate placing both the buckle and strap on one side or the other of the vest. Again, by arranging the elastic gering so that it forms part of the material which surrounds the arm-hole, the latter is capable of being enlarged or contracted, so as to conform and yield to every motion of the arm and shoulder. In ordinary vests it often happens, from lack of this necessary expansibility of the substance around the arm-hole, that a sudden or violent movement of the arm or shoulder will tear such substance, and to prevent this contingency I have formed the sides of the vest of shirring, or other suitable elastic material, which, as shown in the drawing, extends from the lower part of the vest up as far as the arm-holes.l

A vest having an elastic gering o'r gorings applied to it as above described will iit closely to the person of the wearer, and accommodate itself to the motions of his body .in ail positions, adding greatly to the appearance and fit of Ithe garment as well as to its comfort. The elastic, yielding properties of the goring prevent strain upon and tearing away of the buttons of the garment, and is very durable, it being found in practice to outwcar the garment itself.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A vest, provided on one or both sides with an elastic gering or strip, which partially encircles or surrounds the arm-holes of said vest, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

' S. W. HUNTINGTON.

Witnesses:

Cues. II.` Gnirrnv, C. LLOYD TURNER. 

